Professor Birch

Template:Pokémoncharacterinfobox Professor Birch (Odamaki-Hakase in the original Japanese version), is a character in the world of Pokémon. He is considered the "Pokémon Professor" in the Hoenn region. Unlike other Pokémon scientists, he is known for his field work, rather than, in his own words, remaining "cooped up in [his] lab all day". He is also responsible for giving new Pokémon trainers one of the three Hoenn starter Pokémon, Treecko, Mudkip, or Torchic.

In the anime

In the Anime, Professor Birch appears at the start of the Hoenn Saga. When Ash the protagonist arrives in the Hoenn region, his Pikachu is ill from an overexposure to magnetism, and needs treatment immediately, however Littleroot Town has no Pokémon Center. Finding one of Birch's assistants, Birch himself appears and takes both back to his lab, after a detour courtesy of Pikachu's accidental electric attacks. During the process of healing Pikachu, the machine overloads and Pikachu escapes. During the search for Pikachu, he disturbs and is attacked by a pack of Poochyena. He is saved by May, a new trainer on her way to get a new Pokémon from him, who uses his Mudkip to save him. After Pikachu is accidentally healed by a Team Rocket scheme, Birch gives May her first Pokemon Torchic, a Pokédex, and several Pokéballs.

He later appears when Ash, May, Brock and Max return to Littleroot to help save Starter Pokémon from Team Rocket, and later to solve the mystery of Clamperl's evolutions.

In the game

In the games, Professor Birch is the Pokémon Expert for the Hoenn region. He is a friend of the protagonist's father and the father of Brendan/May, depending on whether you choose to play as a boy or girl. Boys will have May as a rival, while girls will have Brendan.

Birch is first seen in-game when the protagonist saves Birch from a wild Pokémon: Poochyena in Ruby/Sapphire, or Zigzagoon in Emerald. After using one of Birch's Pokémon to rescue him, Birch gives the protagonist the Pokémon they used. For the rest of the game, Birch's only role is to rate the protagonist's Pokédex, and give them the National Dex.

See also

• Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire
• Pokémon (anime)
• May